Abstract

Background

Increased density of fast food restaurants is associated with increased prevalence
of obesity in developed countries. However, less is known about this relationship
in developing countries undergoing rapid urbanization and how differences in neighbourhood
income affect the patronage of fast food outlets. The purpose of the study is to explore
the differences in fast food preferences, perceptions, and patronage between Indians
living in high- and low-income neighbourhoods.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 204 men and women (35 to 65 years in age) from
high- and low-income neighbourhoods who completed a questionnaire on fast food consumption.
The questionnaire asked participants to define fast food and to provide reasons for
and frequency of visits to fast food restaurants. The differences were analyzed using
Chi square and t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.

Results

Participants from a high-income neighbourhood were more likely to perceive Western
-style fast food as fast food, while people from the low-income neighbourhood were
more likely to identify food sold by street vendors as fast food (p <0.001). Furthermore,
compared to participants from the high-income neighbourhood, people from the low-income
neighbourhood were more likely to report buying food from street vendors while less
likely to dine out at both fast food and non-fast food restaurants (p<0.001). Although
the high-income neighbourhood group was more likely to report enjoying eating at fast
food restaurants than their low-income neighbourhood counterparts, there were no significant
differences in the reasons for visiting fast food restaurants (convenience, price,
social enjoyment, and quality of meals) between the two groups. Both groups preferred
home cooked over restaurant meals, and they recognized that home cooked food was healthier.

Conclusions

Overall, consumption of fast food was low. People from a high-income neighbourhood
dined out more frequently and were more likely to perceive Western-style food as fast
food compared to their counterparts from the low-income neighbourhood.